Hungary’s Audi plant powers ahead with new Q3, one of the nation’s top export drivers
German carmaker Audi launched serial production of its next-generation new model at its base Győr (NW Hungary) on Thursday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said “Audi is close to our hearts”. He noted that three and a half decades ago it was questionable if Hungary could integrate into modern Western economic systems, and it was clear that this would require technology from foreign investors. “Audi was the first Western European car manufacturer to say, ‘We are coming, we believe in you, we see the future in Hungary…”.
Orbán said the commitment of the workers and engineers working at the plant is a decisive factor in Audi investing and developing in Hungary. Without the Hungarian workers, this factory would not be able to achieve the standards that make Audi globally competitive, and without the Hungarian engineers, Audi in Győr would not be where it is today.
The PM said that, seeing the situation of the European automotive industry and the entire global automotive market, these days, the profession that is the most competitive is that of the automobile manufacturers. The fiercest competition in the world today is in the automobile sector, and this competition can not only be won, but also lost.
He noted that what will happen to European car manufacturing is not an abstract economic policy issue, but a tough question for 160,000 Hungarian families whose fate and livelihood are linked to car manufacturing.
It is very important to understand that bureaucrats cannot dictate production technologies or tell people what to buy. “We must believe that the economy and market freedom make us competitive, and we must free European manufacturing from bureaucratic oppression,” he said. “It is the shared interest of Hungary and Audi, so let us send a message to the bureaucrats in Brussels: give back the freedom of industry and consumers,” Orbán said.
If consumers and factories regain their freedom, they will be able to compete even in these challenging, turbulent times, he said. “Otherwise, we will not be able to keep the jobs and keep our factories,” he warned.
“We have good hope, and indeed serious evidence – as shown by Audi’s new model – that if they let us work, if they let Germany, the German car factories, Hungary and the Hungarian factories work, then we can produce world-class and competitive products,” Orbán said, adding that then Audi has a future, the engineers and workers working here will have an income, and their families will have security.
The launch of the serial production of Audi’s next-generation Q3 SUV model was attended by Construction and Transportation Minister Janos Lazar and Audi Hungaria chairman Michael Breme.
Michael Breme said there is great demand worldwide for the Q3 model, with more than 2m units sold, including 1m second-generation pieces. The third generation sets a new benchmark in the A-segment, he added.
He said the Győr plant currently has an annual capacity of 185,000 units, which is fully utilised for making Q3 and Cupra Terramar models. Extra units beyond the capacity of the factory will be manufactured at Audi’s Ingolstadt plant. The body components will be manufactured in Győr, with painting and assembly done in Ingolstadt, ensuring employment in Győr in the long term.
Audi Hungaria director for vehicle production Zoltan Les said the Audi plant accounts for 7% of Hungary’s exports. With the production of the Q3 model, capacity will be fully utilised in the coming years. Audi Hungaria had EUR 8.611bn revenue in 2024. The company turned out 1,580,991 drive trains, including 151,899 that were electric. It rolled 179,710 vehicles off the production line.
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